Mounting apparatus for fan

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatuses, more particularly to a mounting apparatus for a fan.

2. Description of Related Art

A fan in a chassis of a computer system dissipates heat generated from electronic components of the computer system. However, the fan must be directly secured to the chassis with screws.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus and a first fan in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus and the first fan of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an exploded, isometric view of a mounting apparatus and a second fan in accordance with another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view of the mounting apparatus and the second fan of FIG. 3 .

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”.

FIG. 1 illustrates a mounting apparatus for a first fan 40 in one embodiment. The first fan 40 defines a plurality of first securing holes 41 . The mounting apparatus comprises a cage 11 and a mounting member 13 . The first fan 40 is secured in the cage 11 . The cage 11 includes two side plates 115 . Each of the two side plates 115 defines two first locking openings 1111 . The mounting member 13 comprises a body 130 and four first mounting portions 133 , extending from opposite sides of the body 130 . Referring to FIG. 2 , the four first mounting portions 133 engage the first locking openings 1111 , of the two side plates 115 , to secure the mounting member 13 to the cage 11 , for locking the first fan 40 in place in the cage 11 . In an embodiment, the two side plates 115 are substantially parallel to each other.

The cage 11 further comprises a top plate 113 and a bottom plate 111 , opposite to the top plate 113 . The top plate 113 and the bottom plate 111 are connected to the two side plates 115 . Each of the top plate 113 and the bottom plate 111 defines two second locking openings 1113 . Four second mounting portions 135 extend from a top side and a bottom side of the body 130 of the mounting member 13 . The four second mounting portions 135 engage in the second locking openings 1113 of the top plate 113 and the bottom plate 111 . In an embodiment, the top plate 113 is substantially parallel to the bottom plate 111 , and the top plate 113 and the bottom plate 111 are substantially perpendicular to the two side plates 115 .

The top plate 113 is deformable. When the mounting member 13 is inserted into the cage 11 , the two second mounting portions 135 push the top plate 113 away, resiliently deforming the top plate 113 , until the two second mounting portions 135 snap into the two second locking openings 1113 of the top plate 113 . The top plate 113 engages the two second mounting portions 135 in the two second locking openings 1113 . The two side plates are resiliently deformable. When the mounting member 13 is inserted into the cage 11 , the four first mounting portions 133 push the two side plates 115 away, resiliently deforming the two side plates 115 , until the four first mounting portions 133 snap into the four first locking openings 1111 , of the two side plates 115 . The two side plates 115 firmly engage the four first mounting portions 133 in the four first locking openings 1111 .

The body 130 of the mounting member 13 defines a plurality of ventilation holes 137 . When the first fan 40 works, cooling air flows through the plurality of ventilation holes 137 and the cage 11 . A plurality of fasteners 131 is secured to the body 130 of the mounting member 13 . Referring to FIG. 2 , the fasteners 131 are secured in the first securing holes 41 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , in another embodiment, the mounting apparatus further includes two positioning members 30 . The cage 11 can receive a second fan 50 . A height of the second fan 50 is less than that of the first fan 40 . The second fan 50 further includes a plurality of second securing holes 51 . The two positioning members 30 are secured to the second fan 50 and located in the cage 11 between the two side plates 115 .

Each of the two positioning members 30 comprises a base wall 31 , a first sidewall 35 , and a second sidewall 33 . The first sidewall 35 and the second sidewall 33 extend from opposite edges of the base wall 31 . The first sidewall 35 is secured to the second fan 50 . The second sidewall 33 is secured to the body 130 of the mounting member 13 . In an embodiment, the first sidewall 35 is substantially parallel to the second sidewall 33 , and perpendicular to the base wall 31 .

Two shock absorbing members 351 are secured to the first sidewall 35 of each of the two positioning members 30 , and the two shock absorbing members 351 can be secured to the second securing holes 51 of the second fan 50 . The second sidewall 33 , of each of the two positioning members 30 , defines two fixing holes 331 . The plurality of fasteners 131 is fixed in the fixing holes 331 of the two positioning members 30 . Each of the two positioning members 30 comprises an arcuate cutout 333 . The cutouts 333 of the two positioning members 30 together define a circular hole, when the two positioning members 30 are secured in the cage 11 . The two positioning members 30 are located between the mounting member 13 and the second fan 50 .

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.